St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-01-01
PURE WATER.
Sanitary Regulations Which Should Be
Observed by Every Farmer.

sanitary Regulations which Should be
Observed by Every Farmer.
Unless careful provision has been
made the water supply during winter
is very apt to be lacking both in quality
and quantity. Under its covering of ice
and snow the earth can not discharge
its impurities into the air as it does in
the summer season, when it breathes Oft
It's noxious gases in night vapors, and
the hot sun and dry winds searching
out every foul nook, prevents long-con.
tinued stagnation. s. fatal to the water
supply. Nor can t., impurities from
yards and houses flow off in proper
channels in winter rs they do in sum-
mer. SO long as they are held in the
icy embrace of Jack Frost they can do
no harm, but the invitable winter thaw
unlocks the bonds of the accumulated
mass of filth, and sends it hither and
yon in unwonted channels. If it has
not been wisely disposed, it is then
pretty sure to creep into the wells more
or less.
How many times we see the winters
Stops thrown out within rod of the
house well. | can cite dozen cases
in my own neighborhood where slops
are thrown out within few feet of the
wells. These people feel hurt and sur
prised if you remark upon the matter.
They have grown up in this way, and
have become accustomed to it rs they
are to havinga an occasionalrun Of fever
in the house. That there is any con-
nection between the two, it would be a
hard matter to convince them. So long
as water is clear, and has no offensive
taste. it is hard to convince unthinkinc
people that it is impure. Those who
are accustomed to the constant use OF
water from a certain well, will not
notice change of taste and odor that
comes about gradually. A dead cat or
a few putrid rats VIII often remain I'M
noticed in a well, by those who have
used the water constantly while q
stranger would detect its otfens;yeness
at once. We can not trust our senses
in these things. We mus
use little reason in the matter.
House Stops should not be emptieC
upon the surface Of the ground to wan
der about at will when the first thaw re-
moves the distractions from the way.
Every backyard should be provided
with drain and pit that will insure a
safe removal of the nuisance. A pit
filed with small cobble stones, from
which q roomy drain leads out, will
perform the service in satisfactory
manner.
No we'll curb should be left level with
he surface of the ground Immediately
it. 1t ought to be built up
1t least a foot, and then filled back a
cd or more with clay, or some material
hat will not leach readily. Every part
If the curb and platform should be
lose and tight that no vermin may
inter to their own destruction, and tc
he consequent befouling of the water.
So far as possible these same precau.
ions should be taken with the stock |
wells. Stock can not thrive their best
when obliged to Stake their thirst with |
he yellow sinking liquid often found
n barnyard wells. Locate the yard
arther away from the well and carry
he water along in spouts or troughs.
recovered stagnant ponds are also any
hing but wholesome as watering places
or stock. w D. Boynton, IN Ohu
farmer.